Drum type cartridge magazine



Filed Aug. 15, 1939 FIG. F

-laeaiedm '16, 1945 DRUM TYPE CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE Antoine Gazda,Neuilly-sur-Seine,France; vested in the AlierifropeitycustodlanApplication Augus 5, 1939, Serial No. 290,291

In Switzerland Aiigust 19, 1938 4 Claims.

The known types of cartridge magazines for firearms have a spiral guidechannel for the ammunition which is moved towards the mouth of themagazine by means 'of a spring-operated magazine follower. A greatdisadvantage of these known magazines is that when loading the magazineone cartridge after another has to be pressed into the spiral channel ofthe magazine against the force of a spiral spring and thus a constantlyincreasing spring pressure has to be overcome each time a cartridge isinserted. Obviously loading under such conditions requires considerabletime. Another disadvantage is that the spiral spring is tensioned whenthe magazine is loaded. This constant tension of the spring causesfatigue therein which often leads to trouble during automatic loading ofthe firearm. Difficulties are also encountered when it is desired toempty the magazine for any purpose, because each cartridge has to beremoved from the maga- L zine individually which necessitates thepressure against the cartridge being lifted each time. The object of thepresent invention is to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages and itrelates to a magazine for firearms with a guide channel for theammunition which is moved towards the mouth of said guiding channel bymeans of a spring controlled magazine follower. A feature of theinvention is that a coupling is interposed between the spring and thefollower which can be engaged and disengaged. When the magazine is beingloaded this coupling is disengaged so that the spring is not tensionedduring this operation but is only tensioned later, for exampleimmediately before firing, by engaging the coupling.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing by way of example.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2through the magazine, certain of the parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Figure 3 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating a constructionwherein a pin is used for separating the coupling elements.

Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of the construction shown in Figure3.

According to Figures 1 and 2 the magazine for automatic firearms isprovided with a fixed spiral guiding channel a for the ammunition b. cis a hollow shaft on which sleeve d is rotatably mounted. A spiralspringe is arranged on the sleeve d, the inner end of which is attached to thesleeve d whilst the other end thereof is secured to the fixed guidingchannel a. The holthe other half 9 by a spring i but it may be retractedout of engagement with the half coupling a by means of a pin 1' providedthereon which projects outwards through a slot s in the sleeve d. Thisconstruction is shown particularly in Figures -3 and 4 and the pin tslides in bayonet slots u to retain the half 9 retracted. On thecoupling end of the sleeve d a disc provided with a square stud k isfixed on which the crank m fits. n is a bar shaped magazine follower oneend of which engages through a radial slot f in'the disc I.

When loading the magazine according to the present invention, thecartridges are introduced successively into the spiral guiding channel auntil the magazine is in the almost fully loaded position shown inFig. 1. loading operation follower n, which was in that portion of thechannel nearest to the mouth at the commencement of the loadingoperation, is rotated by the cartridges, thus rotating the disc I andthe hollow shaft 0. This rotating movement however is not transferred tothe spiral spring e because the coupling 9 and g is disconnected, sothat the spring is not tensioned. The spiral spring e is not tensionedby means of the crank m and the coupling 9 and g until the loadedmagazine drum is ready for use in an automatic firearm o as shown inFigure 1. The

tensioned spiral spring e acts on the follower 'n which moves thecartridge towards the mouth of the guiding channel by means of thesleeve d, the coupling 9 and g the hollow shaft 0 and the disc 3'.

What I claim is:

1. A drum type cartridge magazine comprisin a magazine casing having achannel for cartridges, a magazine follower operating in said channel, arotatably mounted shaft connected to said follower, a sleeve rotatablymounted on said shaft, a spring for placing said follower under tensionto eject said cartridges, one end of said spring being secured to saidcasing and the other end being secured to said sleeve, and means forconnecting said shaft and sleeve comprising a coupling elementinterposed therebetween, spring means maintaining said coupling elementnormally in engagement with both said shaft and said sleeve and saidcoupling element being movable relative to both said shaft and Duringthis sleeve into a position of disengagement from one thereof, and meansfor moving said coupling element into said position of disengagement,whereby the magazine may be loaded with cartridges while said springmeans is in untensioned position.

2. A drum type cartridge magazine comprising a magazine casing having achannel for cartridges, a magazine follower operating in said channel,a, rotatably mounted shaft connected to said follower, a sleeverotatably mounted on said shaft, 8. spring for placing said followerunder tension to eject said cartridges, one end of said spring beingsecured to said casing and the other end being secured to said sleeve,and means for connecting said shaft and sleeve comprising a couplingelement interposed therebetween, said coupling element being normally inengagement with both said shaft and said sleeve and being movablerelative to both said shaft and sleeve into a position of disengagementfrom one thereof, yielding means for maintaining such engagement, andmanually operable means for moving said coupling element into saidposition of disengagement against the action of said yielding means,whereby the magazine may be loaded with cartridges while said springmeans is in untensioned position.

A. drum type cartridge magazine comprising a magazine casing having a,channel for cartridges, a magazine follower operating in said channel, arotatably mounted shaft connected to said follower, a sleeverotatablymounted on said shaft, a spring for placing said follower undertension to eject said cartridges, one end of said being secured to saidcasing and the other end Facing secured to said sleeve, and means forconnecting said shaft and sleeve comprising a coupling elementinterposed therebetween, spring means maintaining said coupling elementnormally in engagement with bothsaid shaft and said sleeve and saidcoupling element being movable relative to both said shaft and sleeveinto a position of disengagement from one thereof, and means for movingsaid coupling element into said position of disengagement, whereby themagazine may be loaded with cartridges while said spring means is inuntensioned position, and means for tensioning said spring after saidcasing has been loaded.

4. A drum type cartridge magazine comprising a magazine casin having achannel for cartridges, a magazine follower operating in said channel, arotatably mounted shaft connected to said follower, a sleeve rotatablymounted on said shaft, a spring in the casing for placing said followerunder tension to eject said cartridges, one end of said spring beingsecured to said casing and the other end being secured to said sleeve,and means for connecting said shaft and sleeve comprising a couplingelement in said sleeve, said coupling element being constantly inengagement with said sleeve and normally in engagement with both sleeveand shaft and being movable relative to both said shaft and sleeve intoa position of disengagement from said shaft, yielding means formaintaining such engagement, and manually operable means for moving saidcoupling element into said position of disengagement against the actionof said yielding means, whereby the magazine may be loaded withcartridges while said spring means is in untensionecl position.

ANTOINE GAZDA.

